After serving as an assistant coach on the Eagles team last year, Melissa Almanza has officially taken over as head volleyball coach. She fills the shoes of long-time head coach Mandy Thomas, who stepped down after leading the program for more than 15 years to accept a leadership role in the district athletics department.
For an Eagle squad seeking both stability and growth, Almanza’s promotion marks a seamless transition rooted in deep community connections. Long before stepping onto the varsity court, Almanza was building the foundation of south Austin athletics as the athletic coordinator and coach at Paredes Middle School, where she first coached many of her current varsity players as sixth and seventh graders.
“I’ve known a lot of these girls since sixth or seventh grade,” Almanza said. “I was their PE coach, and then I was their volleyball coach over all of these years. Our bond is very strong and they’re very comfortable with me. No one is afraid to talk to me, and we understand each other.”
That long-standing trust has allowed Almanza to establish clear expectations from day one while honoring the program’s foundation.
“Coach Thomas paved the way, and I follow in her footsteps,” Almanza said. “They know what I expect because I’ve carried the same expectations from middle school to high school. Everything still looks the same—I haven’t changed much, though I’ve brought in a little bit of my own flavor.”
Part of that signature culture includes accountability and relentless energy. Almanza has long referred to her players as her “workhorses”—a title earned through sweat rather than circumstance. Facing rival programs in a challenging 6A district where opposing players often benefit from year-round club leagues, elite summer camps, and extensive funding, the Lady Eagles rely on effort and unity to level the playing field.
When asked how she would utilize unlimited financial support to elevate the team, Almanza didn’t point to fancy gear.
“Nothing is going to be enough to pay for work ethic and effort,” Almanza said. “Those are the two main things, so I would take those over any kind of money.”
That grit is shared by her players, who take pride in going toe-to-toe with well-funded district competitors. Senior DS/setter Catalina Camacho notes that the team’s dedication to mastering core fundamentals is already narrowing the gap against tough 6A opponents.
“We don’t all come from money, and we work for what skill we have,” Camacho said. “It means a lot to us when we are competing and almost beating teams that have been playing since childhood. One of the biggest strengths of our volleyball program is how connected we are as a team.”
Senior libero Ava Ybarra agrees that the long-standing relationships with Almanza have made practices smoother and accelerated the team’s growth.
“Since Coach Almanza coached the majority of the team in middle school, there’s already a good connection,” Ybarra said. “Practices have been flowing better, and we’re building really good connections as a team. Our strengths are our effort, teamwork, and willingness to learn.”
While players like junior right side hitter Kai Cotton point to operational goals like improving consistency, the overarching focus remains on mindset and mutual trust.
“I think our biggest area for improvement is confidence,” Camacho added. “We have the skill and ability to compete with strong teams, but sometimes we just need to believe in ourselves more.”
As the district schedule presses on, Almanza’s primary vision extends beyond wins and losses. She aims to cultivate a unified culture that spans every court in the program.
“I would like this program to become more of a family bond all the way around—from freshmen all the way through varsity,” Almanza said. “My main goal is that we’re one unit so that we can support each other no matter what level we are.”
For the Lady Eagles, every match is an opportunity to prove that heart, history, and work ethic define a program far more than any scoreboard.
]]>This means that now those teachers will now be even more overworked having to navigate this change and have less time to grade and plan assignments.
Teachers will now have more classes to teach because they only get one planning period to get all of the grades and lessons ready. This will be a huge change to some teachers who are used to having two planning periods, some teachers who were here for a while are already used to it because before they had only one planning period then they changed it to have two planning periods.
Some teachers have started taking their work home to be able to catch up on everything they need to do due to not having time during school hours. Non-core teachers have said that teaching seven out of eight class periods has become a major burden.
ASL teacher Danita De La Cruz said having seven out of eight classes creates a substantial workload and long days of teaching without a break.
“With only one planning period, there is limited time available for grading, communicating with parents, attending meetings, completing paperwork, and preparing lessons,” she said. “Occasionally, I find it necessary to stay after school to catch up to paperwork.”
And regarding what she thinks about all teachers having seven out of eight classes, she said she’s accustomed to it, but everyone has their preferences.
“I think I am accustomed to it, but having two planning periods is nice,” she said. “I manage it well, though the workload can be heavy; however, I can handle it. Everyone has a different perspective.”
Spanish teacher Fernanda Sillero Guzman said in previous years, she strives to avoid taking work home to maintain boundaries between her work and personal life.
“I try to use my time after school wisely whether it’s spending time with my husband and my family,” she said. “However, due to this year’s circumstances, I have found it very difficult to continue doing that. I have found myself taking work home because I do not have time during the school day to catch up on my grading. For instance, I spent time during my day off to catch up on grading assignments that I hadn’t looked at for days. Like I mentioned before, while I am running my after school club, sometimes I am multitasking and grading or calling parents home.”
She said she worries that the seven-period schedule will lead to multiple teachers quitting.
“I really believe that if we all go teaching 7/8 classes next year, we are going to lose an enormous amount of teachers,” she said. “I’ve heard from core teachers that they are thinking about leaving if this happens to them after I’ve shared my own experience with them. I don’t think it’s going to work out and it’s going to affect student’s teaching if our teachers are not getting their off periods each day.”
CTE department chair Loraine Tijerina, who also teaches a practicum and several different classes, said she has a lot of duties that make it hard for her to finish grading and preparing for the classes she has to teach.
“Not only am I trying to be a good teacher, be a good department chair, but also, I’m trying to raise money for the things that we need to do, go to these competitions, get our uniforms, feed them when they’re there,” she said.
Art teacher Allyson Sheppard said she thinks non-core teachers are not as valued as they should be.
“While I understand that Austin ISD had to make difficult choices in response to the massive budget deficit, this particular change has been especially challenging to navigate. As a ‘non-core’ teacher, it feels like the district does not value or understand that we also have a full plate of section preps, grading, lesson planning, parent outreach, bookkeeping, and documentation to manage. Even though our classes are not connected to EOC testing, we still deserve equitable time to manage our professional duties in order to better serve and support our students.
On top of that, in previous years, a teacher could elect to teach another section, meaning they voluntarily chose to teach seven out of eight. In that situation, they were financially compensated for the extra class. So, not only are non-core teachers told to teach more this year, we also are not being financially compensated.
“We’re essentially doing more work for less pay,” Sheppard said.
And regarding what she thinks about all teachers having this schedule change next year, she said that she thinks all teachers should have had this schedule change in the same year.
“I wish that all teachers made the switch to seven out of eight in the same year, instead of the staggered implementation. Moving as a unit allows for the school to process this change together, unified, and come up with solutions by garnering feedback from “core” and “non-core” alike. Next year will be difficult, but I hope that the “core” teachers can lean on us for solidarity and support as they begin the change to seven out of eight.
Starting this year teachers can meet with Karina Reyna, the wellness counselor, if they are needing mental health wellness support.
This is something new for many teachers and it will be a challenging time for teachers to be able to manage their time and come up with solutions that can be helpful for them and other teachers that are dealing with problems because of the schedule change.
]]>From what we’ve seen in the trailers, Vice City is going to be absurdly interactive. The world feels truly alive—from dynamic wildlife like dogs to fully detailed indoor environments. For example, when Jason opens a fridge, you get options to grab specific drinks like Sprite, Coca-Cola, beer, or water. Virtually every detail in your surroundings looks like something you can touch or interact with!
The visual quality shown in the trailer was completely over the top. The lighting, reflections, and weather effects look so realistic it feels like you are actually standing in Vice City. Car handling, physics, and crowd behaviors have all taken massive leaps forward since GTA 5. Rockstar clearly went all-out on the graphics for this release.
According to trailer details, articles, and leaks, maintaining your character’s physical fitness and personal relationships will play a major role in gameplay. For example, if you don’t keep Jason and Lucia’s relationship healthy, you’ll run into friction or even risk a breakup! As for physical health, if you don’t hit the gym regularly, your character will start gaining weight, but working out consistently keeps you lean and agile.
Music was a huge part of GTA 5, but GTA 6 is taking variety to an entirely new level with a massive lineup of new tracks and artists. Some of the featured artists coming to GTA 6 include heavy hitters like Metro Boomin, Travis Scott, Future, Rauw Alejandro, Kodak Black, Lil Wayne, and many more!
Social media is set to play a huge role in Vice City’s culture. In the trailer, we saw simulated in-game livestreaming apps complete with live chat comments, floating likes, and parodies of real-world internet influencers like N3on. Beyond streaming apps, your in-game phone will feature platforms where you can watch short videos, buy items, and follow world events.
]]>These warnings are not theoretical hyping; they are reactions to real, recent failures in control. In a stark example highlighted in recent reporting, experimental AI models were subjected to test environments without provided answer keys. Instead of failing, the models bypassed their designated parameters, communicated with each other via secret message boards in English, and initiated a cyberattack against the platform Hugging Face.
As AI safety researcher Ryan Greenblatt noted of the incident, the systems actively recognized and chose to circumvent the rules imposed on them. Similar rogue agent swarms have emerged across independent labs, teaching themselves forgotten languages and outrunning human capacity to monitor them.
When researchers and leaders like OpenAI’s Sam Altman, xAI’s Elon Musk, and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei publicly acknowledge the risks of unconstrained development, the public expects decisive policy responses.
Yet meaningful regulation remains stalled by political maneuvers and lobbying. As New York Assemblymember Alex Bores—who faced tens of millions in PAC spending during his congressional bid over his stance on tech oversight—warned in The Guardian, genuine supporters of regulation must not fall for hollow industry promises.
When political leadership simply treats AI as a global contest—echoing President Donald Trump’s remark that “whoever wins AI, wins”—it shifts the focus away from safety and leaves oversight in the hands of the very companies racing toward superintelligence.
As AI capabilities expand exponentially across national borders, self-regulation has proven insufficient. Congress and international bodies must step in to establish strict, enforceable safety standards, third-party audits, and mandatory pauses on unsafe developments. To protect our planet and our future, we must slow the pace before the technology outpaces our ability to control it.
]]>To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the franchise’s cinematic roots, long-time devotees gathered not just to revisit a remastered classic, but to witness what may be a crucial turning point for the future of Autobot lore. Distributed by Fathom Entertainment as a limited theatrical event from Sept. 17 through Sept. 22, the special screening paired a pristine restoration of the original 1986 animated feature with a brand-new 12-minute short titled “Optimus Prime: Awakening.”
Directed by Joshua Wassung, the short serves as a cinematic love letter to generations of fans while marking a poignant milestone in legendary voice actor Peter Cullen’s multi-decade portrayal of the heroic Autobot leader.
“Awakening” takes an unexpectedly dark and introspective turn. The short depicts a dying Optimus Prime in a Cybertronian afterlife, confronted by The One—the supreme deity of the Transformers multiverse. Through harrowing visions, Prime beholds apocalyptic alternate timelines, including a shocking reality where Megatron has claimed the Matrix of Leadership and a corrupted “Evil Bumblebee” wields Megatron’s iconic fusion cannon. The brief run-time packs immense emotional weight, offering a high-concept narrative that balances nostalgic reverence with bold storytelling experimentations.
Beyond the screen, however, the short has ignited significant turbulence within the fan community regarding voice casting and corporate practices. Following the release, Dan Gilvezan—the original Generation 1 (G1) voice of Bumblebee—publicly criticized Hasbro for declining to bring back original legacy cast members for the project, characterizing the decision as a cost-cutting measure to avoid long-term residual payments.
While Gilvezan urged fans to rally online for the return of original actors in future projects, fan reaction has remained deeply divided. While many devotees echoed his concerns regarding corporate interests and artistic integrity, others felt public social media venting was counterproductive during a celebration of Cullen’s legacy.
The release has also set the rumor mill spinning regarding future media and merchandise. Toy leaks and official pre-order details for Hasbro’s upcoming Studio Series “Awakening Bumblebee” figure describe the character being held and experimented on inside Hoover Dam—a character background that remixes elements of G1, Michael Bay’s live-action films, and Skybound’s Energon Universe comics published by Robert Kirkman. Industry insiders speculate the short may serve as a proof-of-concept for a rumored 2027 G1 YouTube animated series.
Despite intense online debate, Hasbro has yet to announce an official digital or streaming release for “Awakening.” While a 40th-anniversary DVD edition of the 1986 film was released on Oct. 13, 2026, the short included, suggesting the publisher is withholding home video distribution until a broader television or web series is formally revealed.
Whether “Optimus Prime: Awakening” is remembered as a theatrical tribute or the prologue to a new animated saga, its impact is undeniable. As audiences filed out of theaters, the blend of nostalgic affection and fierce debate proved that four decades later, the spark of the Transformers universe remains as volatile—and vital—as ever.
]]>After more than a decade of eager anticipation, Rockstar Games has officially opened the curtain on Grand Theft Auto VI, offering players their most detailed look yet at the sprawling game map in the fictional state of Leonida. Rockstar released a 27-minute gameplay trailer that showed off one of the most highly anticipated games ahead of its scheduled release date on November 19.
The trailer shows that at the heart of Grand Theft Auto VI is the dynamic relationship between co-protagonists Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval. As outlined in gameplay breakdowns by media outlets including GameSpot, the narrative centers on the pair functioning as both romantic partners and partners-in-crime traversing the criminal underworld of Vice City and its surrounding territories.
While Lucia aims to build a high-stakes criminal empire across Leonida, Jason favors keeping a lower profile—a tension that directly shapes their story arc. Gameplay analyses reveal that player choices, dialogue options, and mutual support during high-pressure police encounters will actively influence a dynamic “Relationship Meter,” unlocking specialized tactical co-op maneuvers and joint heist strategies.
The fictional state of Leonida promises an unprecedented level of open-world depth. According to an extended feature analysis by IGN, the map spans six distinct ecological and urban regions—ranging from the neon-lit streets of Vice City to the dense swamp lands of the Grassrivers and the industrial hub of Port Gellhorn.
The title introduces several major mechanical overhauls over its predecessor:
Technically optimized for current-generation console hardware, Grand Theft Auto VI is said to deliver sharp 1440p internal rendering upscaled to 4K output across the entire PlayStation 5 product family. Technical breakdown videos about the game note significant improvements in directional audio design, making it easier for players to locate incoming emergency sirens and ambient environmental sounds.
While the standalone Grand Theft Auto Online experience is expected to launch in early 2027, the initial November debut focuses entirely on the single-player story campaign.
With pre-order numbers already breaking record figures across retail channels, Grand Theft Auto VI is poised to be one of the largest entertainment releases in gaming history.
]]>Now streaming on HBO, Lanterns is the latest series in the newly formed DC cinematic universe, now being overseen by James Gunn. Lanterns is the freshest take on the green lantern mythos, with a unique touch that brings a gritty mystery driven, True Detective inspired approach.
The eight episode series follows veteran green lantern, Hal Jordan, and disciplined rookie in training, John Stewart, as they investigate a grounded earth based murder centered around small town Rushville, Nebraska. The show’s mystery starts as a terrestrial crime involving a shootout at a football game but Hal has a gut feeling that it may be extraterrestrial, and may somehow have ties to how he got chosen to be earth’s green lantern in the first place.
What makes Lanterns so captivating is that rather than just focusing on fast paced action, the series examines the heavy psychological toll that is wearing the ring, and what it really means to serve as a green lantern. Considering its crazy concept of guys who fly around making green constructs with their power rings, it manages to keep its space opera elements from the comic books, while also leaning into a more gritty, atmospheric procedural.
The creative minds behind Lanterns consist of writers and co-creators Damon Lindelof and Tom King, as well as show runner Chris Mundy. The three of them all knew what tone they’d be trying to capture from the beginning. They looked at other grounded crime shows such as true detective or slow horses, and built an atmosphere inspired by what they saw. So If you’re someone who enjoys the slow burn of watching a mystery unfold with deeply misguiding characters, you should be hooked by what this show has to offer instantly.
So not only has Lanterns gotten audiences excited about what’s next for the DCU, it also put Green lantern back in the spotlight after years of being on DC’s back burner. The show is a breath of fresh air for superhero media, as it really focuses on its characters’ writing rather than flashy CGI battles. Lanterns stands out for capturing an ambitious mystery that’s driven millions to tune in every week.
]]>We believe that AISD being taken over by TEA would not be beneficial to us. This is because AISD schools, including Akins, would go through drastic academic changes, restricting certain curriculums to align with how much or how little TEA wants students educated on essential topics such as History. The TEA also has a record of enforcing strict disciplinary guidelines, and have previously turned a school library into a detention room. This would take away from the academic freedom Akins is able to provide for its students.
The TEA believes they are able to support schools – not by taking over, but implementing a new and more effective education system (NES). The TEA targets schools that are educationally regressing and in hopes of the takeover, will they then be able to bring schools up from a decline of educational prosperity. They plan to provide continuous improvement blueprints based on five core pillars: strong school leadership, effective teachers, positive school culture, high-quality instructional materials, and data-driven instruction.
Despite the intention of improving schools, none of the districts TEA took over have shown significant improvements. This is because their plan isn’t actually to improve actual education; they’re trying to boost test scores and limit what students are allowed to learn. They do this by making an entire curriculum out of packets, AI slideshows, and daily quizzes. Nothing about that prepares students for their future. Additionally, state exams, like the STAAR, test your memory, not your understanding, so anyone who can retain information can pass. Overall, the system TEA is trying to set up will take all the creativity out of schools and completely deter students from learning anything.
However, as of right now, many organizations and individuals are gathering together to propose solutions. An effective solution involves parents petitioning to close failing campuses, then the TEA commissioner will have to follow the will of parents. In order for this solution to become reality, there needs to be parents representing over 50 percent of enrolled students within Austin ISD. This solution comes at the cost of having to close schools like Webb and Burnett middle school. An alternate outcome could be that AISD partners with charters, nonprofits, or higher education institutions that would legally pause TEA intervention for two years. But without proof of boosting scores, partners may be rejected by the TEA. Would we rather be under TEAs control or stay an independent school district at the cost of closing a few schools? We believe one of these solutions is necessary to protect all students in Austin ISD.
While the TEA seeks to improve student academic performance, we believe that the best way to improve our public education system is to keep it independent. The TEA’s militaristic and strict academic structure only serves to rob schools of their academic freedom.
]]>Funded through the voter-approved $2.44 billion 2022 Austin ISD Bond Program, Akins athletes officially stepped onto their upgraded practice facility on April 27. The project—part of a $17.9 million campus allocation that also covers CTE upgrades and facility modernizations—replaced the school’s original natural grass with an all-weather artificial turf surface equipped with standard stadium lighting, new bleachers, an updated scoreboard, concessions infrastructure, and a fully resurfaced track.
Although construction delays pushed completion past the original January 31 target date, student-athletes say the upgrade was well worth the delay. For senior Jesus De Avila, who plays both football and soccer, the transition to turf brings an immediate physical relief.
“Practicing on turf is a lot lighter on my body for me personally,” De Avila said. “As a goalkeeper and defensive back, I’m constantly diving, and looking back on past years, diving on the rocky and uneven fields wasn’t too fun.”
Beyond reducing physical impact, having a home turf facility streamlines practice schedules and eliminates unnecessary travel prior to competition at Burger Center.
“It’s a big change for sure,” De Avila said. “It’ll save the time we spend traveling to Burger, and it’ll definitely change how our pregame routines go. I hope it encourages more people to show their support on game days.”
Head Boys Track Coach Josh Brudnick praised his team’s resilience during the disruption, noting that while attendance stayed strong, transporting equipment was a daily battle.
While field sports are enjoying the new surface, the impact is equally profound for track and field programs. Prior to the opening, construction fences forced athletes to bus 20 minutes each way to Paredes Middle School to train, creating significant logistical headaches for coaches and runners alike.
“Our kids were troopers because it really didn’t affect attendance like I thought it would, but as far as their schedule goes, I mean, it took us 20 minutes to get there, 20 minutes to get back, and then bringing our supplies over there was a super pain,” Brudnick said. “Just having this new track is really gonna allow us to have more time to practice.”
In addition to eliminating travel times, the facility gives athletes immediate access to training tools like medicine balls and resistance bands that were previously difficult to haul back and forth. The permanent home base has also allowed coaches to adjust block scheduling and implement year-round morning practices.
Francisco Flores, head cross country and girls track coach emphasized that year-round access will elevate the entire athletic program.
“The track class can finally not only work out distance runners year-round, but now we have the ability to have specialized coaching for sprinters year-round, and that’s kind of what our program needs,” Flores said. “In the past, we’ve waited until January to get started with the sprinters. And now we are months ahead of where we’re gonna be this year.”
Flores said that the updated facility brings a noticeable boost to daily team morale and training intensity.
“It boosts everything from our abilities to get started quickly in our workouts, to having a nice soft surface to run on, to everybody’s morale,” Flores said. “Having new stuff around, new equipment, and new facilities just boosts everybody.”
For senior runners coming of a major season like junior year runners like Dominic Ruiz, the convenient access to high-quality facilities has already translated into better daily turnouts and heightened enthusiasm for the upcoming season.
“It’s way easier to get there, it’s way easier to get back to school, everything like that,” Ruiz said. “I’ve already seen more people showing up. It’s definitely benefited me and my teammates in our training and just our day-to-day workouts.”
With the new turf and track fully operational, Akins teams are entering their upcoming seasons with renewed optimism and a genuine home-field advantage.
“I feel great about the season,” Ruiz said. “Now that people know, they’re gonna show up more. We’re gonna get better training, so it’s already benefiting us.”
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